# Setting Guest OS Type and Version

You can change which guest OS a virtual machine is configured to work with. You need to change it in the following cases:

* If you upgrade the guest operating system (for example, from Windows 10 to Windows 11), you need to change the guest OS type and version correspondingly, or [Parallels Tools](/landing/pdfm-ug/parallels-desktop-for-mac-26-users-guide/advanced-topics/installing-and-updating-parallels-tools.md) may start working incorrectly.
* If you create a virtual machine without installing an operating system, and then decide to use it with a different operating system than the one you initially specified.

To set the guest OS type and version:

1. [Shut down the virtual machine](/landing/pdfm-ug/parallels-desktop-for-mac-26-users-guide/use-windows-on-your-mac/getting-started/shutdown-and-suspend-windows.md).
2. Open the **Actions** menu and choose **Configure**.
3. Click **General** and select an OS from the menu just above the **Name** field.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.parallels.com/landing/pdfm-ug/parallels-desktop-for-mac-26-users-guide/advanced-topics/working-with-virtual-machines/setting-guest-os-type-and-version.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.